Living For the Moment VS Living In the Moment

Sunday, we had a guest pastor that spoke at our church. His name is Reverend Ted Johnson. I have to mention his name because he was quite impressive; his preaching style was very personable, practical and relevant. He took an obscure topic and showed us how to apply it, practically, into our everyday lives. I don't know about you, but I need that kind of preaching everyday!

The scriptural reference was from Luke. It was the Parable of the Good Samaritan or as the preacher subtitled it "The One Who had Mercy". (If you are unfamiliar with the parable, it can be found at Luke 10:25).I wondered how the preacher man would tie together his lesson for the day with this parable. Heck, I wondered what kind of lesson he would have for us anyway--is there really a difference between living for the moment and living in the moment?

Indeed there is. And it isn't nearly quite as subtle as it sounds.

A person that lives for the moment is living for that moment that will be pleasing to themselves; whenever or whatever that moment may be. (Think of the employee that's looking forward to the weekend on Monday morning at 9:03 a.m.!) They miss what's going on around them because they are living for the moment that will make themselves happy. Or the moment that things will be easier for themselves. They are Me focused.
A person that is living in the moment is aware of what's going on around them. They are sensitive to the needs of others and willing to put aside their moment, to help someone else in theirs. They are WE focused.

For example, in the parable, a man was beaten, robbed and left for dead on the side of the road. A priest and a Levite passed him by. Both prominent men in their cultures, just left him there half dead, on the side of the road. Maybe they were in a hurry. Maybe it would have been an inconvenience. Maybe they thought they were too important to help. Maybe it just wasn't their problem. Whatever the case, they were living FOR their moment.

On the other hand, the Samaritan, who, by the way, was looked down upon in that culture, stopped, bandaged the man's wounds, took him to an inn, paid for his room and paid the innkeeper to take care of him. The Samaritan, I'm sure, was also on his way, somewhere. The road they were traveling was a dangerous road--it had to be a little scary for him. Getting the guy to the inn on his donkey couldn't have been easy. He helped him anyway. He was living IN the moment.
The preacher gave us at least 7 points to ponder regarding this lesson. He was really good. I'm usually lost after 3.
Real quick--here are three that I think relate most to our business lives:

Every Moment is an Opportunity
Have you ever had a conversation with a prospect and missed the entire conversation because you were thinking of the next thing YOU would say? I have. Unfortunately, numerous times. That's amateurish. I'm beginning to believe that listening is an acquired skill! I wonder how many opportunities I've missed because I was focused on my moment, rather than my clients.

The Next Moment isn't Promised
We never know what's being placed in front of us. How many times have we been asked for help by someone and we looked the other way because it wouldn't benefit us. Always err on the side of mercy! If we are given an opportunity and miss it because we are living for OUR moment, we may never get a chance at that opportunity again.

There is a Bigger Picture
The Network Marketing industry gives all of us the awesome chance to provide someone with the opportunity to earn an unlimited income, regardless of their circumstances or background. In short, it is a privilege. What we have here is bigger than you. It is bigger than me. The great thing is, we are all included. By keeping site of the bigger picture, we all win in the end.

Jesus ended the parable with a question. "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" The expert in law replied "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him "Go and do likewise."

Ginger Jones
therealginger.com

Mentoring, Lifecoaching and Porn

I just received another email from yet another mentoring program. Are they trying to tell me something? I just have one question; with all the mentors on the internet, why doesn't everybody know everything?? Why aren't we all millionaires? And is there really anybody left to mentor??? Ok, that was more than one.

Everytime I turn around, there's another mentor popping up. Then another mentoring program. And what's up with all these life coaches??? I'm concerned. Don't people don't know how to live anymore? I had a life coach once. She gave me my money back.

I guess this is the latest trend. Everybody knows something.

Well, I'm here to tell you, I don't know anything! I don't know the difference between RSS, CEO or SEO! Working on my website gets on my LAST nerve and I just learned that a blog is actually a "Weblog". How clever is that!

Anyway, I just wanted to rant a little bit. I'm sure I'll learn something, eventually. I hope I haven't offended anyone. I know there is a huge market for this industry. Actually, we are all mentors to someone.

Hey--I did learn how to get my site on the first page of Google. At least for today. (Beware--if you Google my name, it ain't pretty). And that, my friends, has everything to do with porn. Now porn I understand. Not that I agree with it or anything, I just know that it's the number one money maker on the internet.

Oh! There's no porn on my site, but, I figured out how to incorporate it onto my site just enough to get onto the first page of Google. I guess I know more than I thought....

Ginger Jones
therealginger.com

Our Most Valuable Asset

What's your most valuable asset?

The best definition of the word "asset" I could find is "a valuable item that is owned".
So what is your most valuable asset? Is it something tangible, like a home, stocks or a car? Or is it something that you can't actually put your hands on? Your thoughts, a skill that you've acquired or even the air that you breathe?

I assert that the most powerful asset is one that we cannot get our hands on. We have no control of it. We can never get anymore of it.
We are all given two things when we come into this world. Time and Choice. Which is more important? I say the one we will never be able to get more of. TIME!

I love the fact that we are all given the same opportunities, and, in most cases, the same amount of time to take advantage of those opportunities. We all start off with a level playing field.
Things happen, as they are supposed to, to change the playing field for all of us. It appears some of us have a more difficult time, while some appear to live on "easy street".
There is a reason for all of that, which I won't get into, but, I will say, the only thing that truly levels the playing field is time.

There is no variable with time--it doesn't change. Why is it that some seem to get much more done, with the same amount of time? What are you doing with yours? Are you wasting it, spending it or investing it?
Take a look at your day, hour by hour; minute by minute. Your week. Your month. Your year! Do your accomplishments match up with the time you've been given?
Time is so valuable because it is an asset that can never be replaced. Kids grow up. Money comes and goes. Jobs change. Beauty fades.

Time is never changing. Do you own it???

The Professional vs The Amateur

The difference between the professional and the amateur is income. Well, maybe not exactly, but it's a great way to tell if you are on top of your game. Think major league vs minor league! It is very rare for an amateur earn a professional income. If you expect to earn a professional income, you must make a professional effort! Here are some of the differences between the pro and the amateur:

• Long Term vs Short Term Mindset
• Commitment vs Conditional Commitment
• Increasing Skill Set vs Lack of Skill
• Belief vs Lack of Belief
• Coach-able vs Unteachable
• Focused on the positive vs Focus in the wrong place
• Doing whatever it takes vs Not doing the work
  
  

The great thing about becoming a professional is that there is no way you can grow professionally without growing personally. In our businesses, as we grow personally, our income follows!

Looking forward to your success!
Ginger